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Showing 351 to 375 of 4681 results

351. God's Little Acre

Matthew 13:24-30

Sermon

Will Willimon

... views of the church, our Lord says to us, this is the way it is: The church is not some manicured, formal, pristine, perfect garden of pruned shrubs and Astroturf. The church is a rough field, in the world. It is the church's difficult vocation to bear witness to the Kingdom of God among and within a divided, unbelieving, half-hearted world. To separate prematurely ourselves from that world is to separate ourselves from our vocation. There is no way for any church to be faithful and at the same time be smug ...

352. How a Baby Changed the World

Luke 1:26-38

Sermon

King Duncan & Angela Akers

... you to take your place in this world as a child of God. The angel Gabriel came to Mary with a message from God that she would bear a son who would be called the son of the Most High. Thus did Jesus enter our world. To me it is the most beautiful and ... the right to say no, just as Mary had the freedom to say no when the angel Gabriel came to her and told her that she would bear a son. Her response was to say, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” That should be our response when ...

353. Praying the Lectionary: Lent 2

Mark 8:31-38 · Romans 4:13-25 · Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 · Psalm 22:23-31

Bulletin Aid

Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

... and maintaining democracy, freedom, justice, and peace. God of mercy: C: Hear our prayer. P: Gracious God: We are most grateful that we receive your promises and are justified not by work or the law, but by grace through faith in Jesus, our cross-bearing Savior. We thank you for the example of Abraham and Sarah; their faith was reckoned to them as righteousness as they believed in your promise to them. So may we trust in your promise to us, that through Jesus’ death and resurrection we are justified ...

354. The Great Divide

Luke 16:19-31

Sermon

Jill J. Duffield

... nothing out of it and that everything we have ultimately belongs to God. We ask ourselves often, is this a faithful use of God’s provisions to me? Will this increase the great divide or build a bridge between it? God does not begrudge my daughter her teddy bear, but God does grieve that other children don’t have one. God calls us to grieve together and then invite those children to the party, too. We see Lazarus and the gate and we find him offensive and scary. We want to turn away, ignore him, and lock ...

355. Suffering And Service

Isaiah 51:17--52:12

Sermon

Douglas J. Deuel

... to know that God is with us? Can we see God's hand in all life has to offer? The servant suffered but he continued to trust in God. When we maintain our faith in the face of adversity, it is our greatest opportunity to bear witness for Christ. The Servant Restores God ultimately has one purpose: to redeem God's people and rstore them to fellowship. Suffering is not endured because of some misguided martyr complex. Suffering is only meaningful when it reflects a persistent witness in the face of adversity ...

356. The Parables About Response

Mark 4:30-34, Mark 4:26-29

Sermon

Ron Lavin

... be a slow-moving process in others. That's why we need patience like Jesus had. If when Jesus planted seeds of the word, there were different responses, so it will be when we plant seeds. We should not expect that all seeds which we plant will take root and bear fruit. Our job is to plant and nurture. Only God can produce the fruit. We are called to do what we can do -- plant and nurture. God will do what only God can do -- produce the growth. I knew very little about farming as a boy growing up in Chicago ...

357. The Perisitent Noise Of Solemn Assemblies

Luke 10:25-37

Sermon

Maurice A. Fetty

... lest the weak turn that truth to their advantage wherein they are exploiting the strong, mooching off their generosity, greedily drinking in the milk of human kindness, let it be remembered that Paul advised that when they regain their strength, "each man will have to bear his own load" (Galatians 6:5). We all belong to the family of man and must be responsible to each other in that relationship. In conclusion, let us say that the noise of all sorts of solemn assemblies is very persistent today. Sentimental ...

358. Proper 18

Psalm 139:1-24, Philemon 1:8-25, Philemon 1:1-7, Jeremiah 18:1--19:15, Luke 14:25-35

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

... down 12 legions of angels to fight his battles. CONTENT Precis of the Parable Jesus addresses the crowd. He says that if they want to follow him they must have less love for family and kin than for him. Only those who are willing to bear the cross with him can be his disciples. He proceeds to tell two brief parables about considering cost before undertaking a project to illustrate his message. The first is positive. It is a builder who has to calculate the cost before starting the construction. Otherwise ...

359. The Tale Of Three Women

Ruth 1:1-22

Sermon

John A. Stroman

... in the midst of a hostile world. This is a story of relationships, of family. To be in any family is to venture forth like Ruth and Naomi, without guarantees for the future, but, even in the worst of futures, it is more hopeful and bearable when we bear it with one another. God was about to work out a remarkable future for Ruth. She wasn't sure what it all meant, but she had the feeling that her life was to have significance and meaning, if she was faithful and loyal, although things appeared mysterious. At ...

360. They Drew Back And Fell

Drama

Dann J. Ettner

... that he mayinstruct Him? C: But we have the mind of Christ. Prayer Of The Day P: Let us pray: Almighty God, Lord of heaven and earth, inYour Divine goodness You sent Your Son to be our Savior. C: Jesus went willingly to the cross which He had come to bear. P: No army could have captured Him, no one could have takenHis life if He had not allowed it. C: Teach us, we pray, to remain in our faith which seesJesus as the willing sacrifice offered by God for our sake. P: The sacrifice which removes all sin to all ...

361. Behold The Man Who Turned Toward Jerusalem

Mark 10:32-34

Sermon

Thomas A. Pilgrim

... . To travel the road Jesus chose is not easy. But, the important things never are easy. There is always a burden to bear. When John F. Kennedy was President he often became so discouraged he wanted to give the job to Lyndon Johnson. When Lyndon Johnson ... walk. It is that he gives sight to us who can already see and walks with us on the road to the crosses he gives us to bear for him. Finally, Jesus chose not the road of security but the road of service. The road to Jerusalem was the road of service. That is ...

362. Reach Beyond The Break

Isaiah 50:1-11

Sermon

Rodney Thomas Smothe

... (42:1-7; 49:1-9; 50:4-9; 52:13-53), we're reminded that God has a purpose for many of life's twists and turns that we do not always understand when we're in the midst of them. What some would call vicarious suffering bears the marks of unlimited compassion so that others can come to know restoration. The Passion/Palm Sunday observance points us then to a Christ who is revealed both as Messiah and Suffering Servant. Christ's disciples could not understand why this suffering was necessary. They too thought ...

363. The Compelling Call

Drama

Karren Boehr

... God with all our heart and with all our soul in order that we may live. Peter, that time has come. Outward circumcision is of value only if one practices the Law perfectly. But you and I know the Law is our taskmaster. Its burdens are impossible to bear. Ah, Peter, that's where our Savior, the One you and I have given up everything to serve, comes in. He had to die that we could become new creatures, circumcised of the heart, forgiven and righteous before an Almighty God. I cannot go back to my Christian ...

364. Grand Finale

Drama

Karren Boehr

... in there with me, okay? That I find the right school, and the right friends ... MARCUS: You bet. Ready for the grand entrance? ANDREA: Ready. You know my cousin Calvin? MARCUS: Yah ... he's the little kid we just saw come in. ANDREA: Well, his stuffed bear hates graduations ... so maybe we should be prepared to duck. MARCUS: Gotcha. Andrea? ANDREA: Yes? MARCUS: God will find you a college, you'll see. ANDREA: I know. Thanks. Marcus, you've been a great friend. (They both smile and march off as strains of ...

365. David The Giant Killer

2 Samuel 16:15--17:29

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

... my stick and my sling. I'll just take along these five smooth stones. ELIAB: That's it? Five smooth stones? DAVID: Let me tell you something. Whenever I was tending my sheep and a lion or a bear would attack my flock and carry off one of my sheep, I would catch him and kill him with my bare hands. I have killed both the lion and the bear. This giant is no better than they are since he taunted the armies of the living God. The Lord delivered me from the paws of the lion and the paws of the ...

366. The Hope Of A Girl-- And The Hope Of The World

Isaiah 7:1-25

Sermon

Thomas A. Pilgrim

... will not put the Lord to the test." Isaiah answers for God, saying, "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." That name means "God with us." That would be a sign that God would save his people. Centuries pass by and finally the hope of the world comes through the hope of a girl. Saint Luke tells us about it. The angel ...

367. The Easy Way Out

Luke 4:1-13

Sermon

Glenn E. Ludwig

... empty tomb, and the death of death and sin, and the end of that real kingdom Jesus tried so desperately to explain to his followers. The temptation of Jesus was to choose another way other than the cross. Maybe ... maybe that is our temptation too. The cross? We have to bear it, too. And every time we wish we could avoid it, every time we think there must be an easier way, we are tempted as Jesus was tempted. Let's be honest, my friends in Christ. It is hard to be a child of God sometimes. It isn't always ...

368. Easter 6

John 14:15-31, Psalm 67:1-7

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

... than teaching what he commands. Recall us from any thoughtless talk and speculation, without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that disturbs the faith and peace of mind of others. Prevent us from adding unnecessary burdens to ourselves and others when Jesus calls us to bear an easy yoke and carry a light burden, for his sake. Amen. DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS Hear the Good News! Jesus says: Set your troubled heart at rest, and banish your fears. Peace is my gift to you. Friends, believe the Good News ...

369. The Laughter Of Faith

Genesis 17:1-27, Genesis 18:1-15, Genesis 21:1-7

Illustration

Richard A. Jensen

... the Lord in fear. "Oh yes you did laugh," the Lord replied (Genesis 18:14-15). Now a little laughter cannot dissuade the Lord. The Lord had made a promise to Sarah. The Lord kept that promise. The Lord means what the Lord says! Sarah did conceive and bear a son. What joy this son must have brought into the life of Abraham and Sarah! They named him "laughter," Isaac, as the one who promised had instructed them. But we're not done with the laughing. Now it was Sarah's turn to laugh. "God has brought laughter ...

370. Salt And Light

Matthew 5:13-16

Sermon

Mark Radecke

... anyway?] While I was engaged in mortal combat with this stainless steel contraption that parts with napkins as willingly as a mother bear parts with her cubs, and with just about the same amount of shredding and clawing, my concentration was broken by a ... and preserving, of enlightening and illumining, then we need something bolder than bake sales, barbecues, bull roasts and rummage sales to bear bright and salty witness to the love of a crucified and risen Christ. Rather than talk about those bolder ways, I ...

371. The Spreading Word

Matthew 13:1-23

Sermon

Marc Kolden

... in some important ways. The image of the word as a seed already hints at this. The seed must be buried and die before it can bear fruit. (Compare John 12:23-26 as well as Matthew 10:37-39 and 16:24-26.) This figure describes both Christ as God's word ... and the resulting life of the believer. The death of the old, sinful self is part of the great harvest; only the seed that dies bears fruit. Those who want to hang on to their lives lose them but those who lose them for Christ's sake find true life (Matthew 16: ...

372. Easter 7

Jn 17:1-11 · Acts 1:1-14 · 1 Pet 4:12-19, 5:6-11 · Ps 68 · Ps 27 · Ps 47

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... will keep his disciples faithful to his teaching. Theme For The Sermon Series: The Rock Proclaims Glory In Suffering Suggested Text For Preaching: 1 Peter 4:12-17 (For sermon series) COMMENTARY Lesson 1: Acts 1:1-14 The risen Christ orders his disciples to bear witness to him, with the promise of the Holy Spirit to enable them to accomplish the same. The newborn community of faith then returns from the Mount of Olives to the place where they were staying in Jerusalem. The 11 apostles are named, together ...

373. Proper 22

Philippians 4:2-9, Philippians 3:1-11, Philippians 3:12-4:1, Isaiah 5:1-7, Exodus 20:1-21, Matthew 21:33-46

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... who did so. While the fourth commandment is the only one with a blessing attached, the second commandment is the only one that has a type of curse attached to it. This should have a sobering effect on anyone who takes God's Word seriously. All children of God bear his name, but who among us has not misused or misrepresented that Holy Name? We're not just talking about language here; we're talking about lifestyle and values. Old Testament: Isaiah 5:1-7 God as lover. You can feel Isaiah's passion for God, his ...

374. Death Shall Be No More

Isaiah 25:1-12

Sermon

E. Carver McGriff

... what-might-have-been, about a terrible grief only partly assuaged by the years -- remembering. Then she places the bear on the grave of a little fellow who never got to hold it and quietly returns to her ... was found dead some time ago, a suicide. She was a nurse in the children's cancer ward of a large hospital. Her close friend said she could no longer bear to see the suffering, both of the children and of the loved ones who prayed and hoped until the end. She'd seen too much. So Wordsworth caught the pain ...

375. Cat fishing?

Luke 5:1-11

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

... blind?" That was certainly an intriguing idea. I wondered at the other thought processes going on in Henry's mind. "No, not something blind. Whatever it is has to be able to see what's on the end of the line." "A bear?" "Wow! A bear? No, I don't think I'd want to try to go fishing for a bear. I might have more than I could handle. "Actually, my cats received this 'fishing pole' as a present from our housekeeper. It's a cat toy. And it's a very unusual fishing pole, isn't it?" Suddenly one of the ...

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